Mecardonia plant named ‘USMECA67’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mecardonia  plant named ‘USMECA67’, characterized by its vigorous, low-growing, outwardly spreading and trailing plant habit; freely and continuous branching habit; numerous bright yellow-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Mecardoniacaespitosa×Mecardonia dianthera cultivar USMECA67.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Suteraplant, botanically known as Mecardonia caespitosa×Mecardonia dianthera,and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘USMECA67’.

The new Sutera is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Hikone, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new vigorous low-growing Mecardonias with freelybranching habit and bright yellow-colored flowers.

The new Mecardonia originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on May 19, 1999 of an unidentified selection of Mecardoniacaespitosa, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with anunidentified selection of Mecardonia dianthera, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Mecardonia was chosen as a single plantfrom the resulting progeny of the cross-pollination by the Inventor onJun. 10, 2000, in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings inBonsall, Calif. since Jul. 1, 2000, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Mecardonia are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar USMECA67 have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘USMECA67’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘USMECA67’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofMecardonia:

-   -   1. Vigorous, low-growing, outwardly spreading and trailing plant        habit.    -   2. Freely and continuous branching habit.    -   3. Numerous bright yellow-colored flowers.    -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Mecardonia are most similar to plants of the parentselections. Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants ofthe new Mecardonia are more vigorous and flower for a longer period oftime. Compared to plants of the male parent selection, plants of the newMecardonia have larger flowers and flower for a longer period of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which more accurately describe the colorsof the new Mecardonia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof three typical flowering plants of ‘USMECA67’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view oftypical flowers and leaves of ‘USMECA67’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., in an outdoornursery under full sunlight conditions during the spring and summer withday temperatures ranging from 18 to 35° C. and night temperaturesranging from 7 to 18° C. After planting rooted cuttings, plants weregrown for about four weeks in 15-cm containers. Color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mecardonia caespitosa×Mecardonia dianthera    cultivar USMECA67.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Unidentified selection of Mecardonia            caespitosa, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Unidentified selection of Mecardonia dianthera,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About three to four weeks            at 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fine; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Low-growing, outwardly spreading and trailing plant            habit. Freely and continuously branching with about three to            four primary lateral branches each with about two to three            secondary lateral branches. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 10 cm.        -   Plant diameter, single plant.—About 12 cm by 30 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: 144A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite; simple. Length:            About 2.1 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Rounded elliptical.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            147A. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface:            147B. Venation, upper surface: 145A. Venation, lower            surface: 145B.        -   Petiole length.—About 3 mm.        -   Petiole diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Petiole color.—144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Solitary axillary flowers on long            peduncles; zygomorphic. Flowers persistent. Freely            flowering; typically about eight open flowers and about 16            to 20 flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers face mostly            outward and upright.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants typically flower during the            spring and summer; flowering continuous during this period.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five days.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 1.4 cm by 1.6 cm. Length: About            1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: 5B.        -   Corolla.—Quantity/arrangement: Four petals fused at the            base. Upper and lateral petals, lobe length from throat:            About 7 mm. Lower petal, lobe length from throat: About            9 mm. Upper and lateral petals, lobe diameter: About 8 mm.            Lower petal, lobe diameter: About 1 cm. Petal lobe shape:            Roughly cordate. Petal lobe apex: Slightly emarginate. Petal            lobe margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening, upper            surface: 5A. When opening, lower surface: 5D. Fully opened,            upper surface: 7A; lateral and lower petals with hair-like            stripes towards the throat, 79B. Fully opened, lower            surface: 5D. Flower throat (inside): 7A. Flower tube            (outside): 5D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Two. Length: About 9 mm. Width:            About 1.5 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 144A.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Three. Length: About            8 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acute.            Margin: Slightly serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.7 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Angle:            About 30 to 45° from the stem. Strength: Moderately strong;            slender. Texture: Smooth. Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four to            five. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: Less than 1 mm.            Anther color: 155D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            155D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:            About 5 mm. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: 145A.            Stigma shape: Curved. Stigma color: 145A. Ovary color: 145A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Mecardonia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Mecardonia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Mecardonia have been observed    to have good garden performance. Plants of the new Mecardonia    tolerate temperatures from −4 to 38° C. and have good tolerance to    wind and rain.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Mecardonia plant named ‘USMECA67’, asillustrated and described.